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Brazil back with a bang

(FIFA.com) 03 Jan 2008

It was supposed to be the year in which Brazil's latest
wonder cast cemented their place in the pantheon of football's
greatest-ever sides. Indeed, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Co were
not only the favourites to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™,
but they were expected to seize gold in the same mouth-watering
fashion as their predecessors of 1958 and 1970. Things, however,
did not go according to the script envisaged by a majority of their
countrymen.

There is no doubt that a boost was needed in 2007, and there is
equally no doubt that Brazilian football received this lift. From
start to finish, Brazilians were given repeated cause for cheer,
provided by men and women, teenagers and old-timers; on the turf,
the sand and even away from the action at two prestigious
ceremonies in Zurich - the last 12 months will certainly go down as
a profitable period for the South American giants.

Men triumph, women thrillThe year began with Brazil winning the South American U-20
Championship and, in the process, qualifying for the Men's
Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 - the only men's prize
missing from the country's revered collection. It was in July,
though, that Brazilian football earned the pinnacle of its annual
successes.

The
Seleção entered the Copa America in Venezuela without
first-choice players Julio Cesar, Lucio, Kaka and Ronaldinho and
trailing Argentina on the favourites' list. This position was
seemingly justified when the five-time world champions lost 2-0 to
Mexico in their opener while their arch-rivals handed USA a 4-1
reverse.

But Dunga held a trump card in Robinho, who thereafter
illuminated the tournament, finished as its leading marksman and
propelled his nation to the final. There, his team-mates did the
majority of the damage in a 3-0 defeat of Argentina. Brazil went on
to make a sound start to their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
qualification campaign, taking eight points from their opening four
games.

The women's team also captured gold in July at the
Pan-American Games, scoring 33 goals without reply in an event the
country hosted impressively. Next up for Jorge Barcellos' side
was the FIFA Women's World Cup in China, but despite a
captivating title charge, which included an emphatic 4-0 upset of
USA in the semi-finals, they lost out 2-0 to Germany in the
final.

Nevertheless, the incomparable Marta and team-mates had
succeeded in putting the women's game on the map in their
homeland and, subsequently, the CBF (Brazilian Football
Confederation) launched the first women's Copa do Brasil, won
by Mato Grosso do Sul last month.

Brazil's final team honour of 2007 came in November, when
the likes of Buru, Junior Negao and Bruno united to guarantee the
successful defence of their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup trophy.

Back on the turf, the
Seleção also reigned supreme on the continent at U-15 and
U-17 level. Their U-17 starlets also provided some magical moments
at Korea 2007, although, alike their U-20 counterparts, they were
unable to become world champions.

A catalogue of starsKaka, Marta and Buru were deservedly crowned at the FIFA
World Player Gala, but a number of their compatriots also excelled
in 2007. Robinho repeated his exceptional performances for Brazil
in the white of Real Madrid upon his return from Venezuela, while
Julio Cesar, Juan, Maicon, Elano, Diego, Alex de Souza, Amauri,
Rivaldo, Afonso Alves and Luis Fabiano all enjoyed memorable
years.

Teenagers also hit the headlines. Anderson made waves for
Manchester United, Alexandre Pato earned a big-money move to AC
Milan, and defender Breno joined Bayern Munich after playing a
central role in Sao Paulo's capture of the Brasileiro
crown.

It was, however, a veteran who claimed the top honour at the
CBF/Globo end-of-season awards ceremony,
Tricolor Paulista keeper Rogerio Ceni, 34, receiving the
Player of the Year gong. Tulio Maravilha continued his relentless
pursuit of 1,000th career goals by his personal count, something
Vasco's Romario achieved on an emotional night at the Sao
Januario.

Women's stars Cristiane and Daniela Alves can also take
immense pride from their achievements last year, as can Alessandro
and Andre on the beach soccer circuit.

The most famous face in the history of the sport was also left
sporting his unmistakeable grin in December. At the FIFA World
Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House, Pele collected the FIFA
Presidential Award for 50 years of magnificent service to football.
Less than two months earlier in the same Swiss city, euphoria was
spread among Brazilians when FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter
announced they had won the right to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup
™.

The 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup may be six-and-a-half
years away, but 2007 has inspired confidence that Brazilian
football has a very bright more immediate future.